Jordan foils al Qaeda terror plot, arrests 11

Amman: Jordanian intelligence said Sunday it had arrested 11 al Qaeda members after foiling a plot to carry out terrorist attacks on strategic facilities and western targets in the Arab kingdom, reported Xinhua, citing the state-run Petra news agency.

The terrorist group planned to attack malls and strategic facilities in the country, the department said, adding that the group started planning for its scheme in June.

"The terrorist group sought to spread chaos and panic believing that attacking strategic facilities and western targets will lead to a case of security chaos in Jordan and will pave the way for more attacks," the department said in the statement on Petra Sunday.

The terrorist cell planned to attack its targets with explosives, booby-trapped cars, machines guns, according to the statement.

The department said the terrorist group was planning to bring TNT and explosives and mortar shells from Syria. They planned to attack foreigners and diplomats in hotels and public areas and later attack Abdoun area, which is home to a large number of diplomatic missions.

The terrorists were planning to start by attacking two malls to distract the security forces and then attack strategic facilities including diplomatic missions by suicide bombers, it said.

In November 2005, a series of coordinated bomb attacks ripped three hotels in Amman, leaving more than 100 dead and injuring many. Al Qaeda claimed responsibility for the 2005 attacks.